title: Dimensions and arterial vascular supply of the sesamoid bones of the human hallux.
abstract: The arterial supply of the ossa sesamoidea hallucis was studied in 13 subjects of both sexes by gross anatomical dissection. The majority of the ossa sesamoidea, i.e. 63% of the medial and 58% of the lateral sesamoid bones (SB), were supplied by a single artery. 26% of the medial and 32% of the lateral SB received 2 sesamoid arteries. In left feet only, 3 sesamoid arteries were found to supply 11% of the medial and 10% of the lateral SB. The actual number of sesamoid arteries proved to correspond to the dimensions and compactness (robusticity) of the ossa sesamoidea hallucis as well as to several other parameters, such as anthropometric dimensions, sex and footedness of the individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department 2, Institute of Anatomy, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pretterklieber
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001699:Biometry; D005260:Female; D006214:Hallux / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012716:Sesamoid Bones / Q000098:blood supply*